Variable gauge transfer device for rib border knitting machine

ABSTRACT

A knitted loop sinking comb device for transferring a knitted rib border from the needles of a knitting machine of one gauge onto the teeth of a magazine-comb of another gauge. The main features of the device include a variable gauge sinking comb having individually pivotable points which cooperate with a pair of spacing combs which hold the sinking comb points at two relative spacings or gauges, and an expansible support for the sinking comb points.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,913,358 Dhondt Oct. 21, 1975 [54] VARIABLE GAUGE TRANSFER DEVICE 3,514,978 6/1970 Bliederh'ziuser 66/148 FOR RIB BORDER KNITTING MACHINE 3,633,385 l/l972 Bruelemans 66/148 3,656,322 4/1972 Challenger 66/89 Inventor: Prosper Dhondt, Wendelgem, 3,841,114 10/1974 Vandermeirsch 66/148 Belgium [73] Assignee: Fabrique Nationale Herstal S.A., Primary ExaminerRonald Feldbaum Herstal-lez-Liege, Belgium Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bacon & Thomas [22] Filed: Apr. 9, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 459,395 [57] ABSTRACT A knitted loop sinking comb device for transferring a Apphcatlon Pnonty Data knitted rib border from the needles of a knitting ma- July 12, 1973 Belgium 802224 chine of one gauge onto the teeth of a magazine-comb of another gauge. The main features of the device in- [52] U.S. Cl. 66/148 clude a variable gauge sinking comb having individu- [51] Int. Cl. D04B 9/40 ally pivotable points which cooperate with a pair of [58] Field of Search 66/147, 148, 96, 89 spacing combs which hold the sinking comb points at two relative spacings or gauges, and an expansible [56] References Cited support for the sinking comb points. UNITED STATES PATENTS 9 Cl 7 D F 3,446,042 5/1969 Fontaine; 66/148 guns 1s /a 2a US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet10f3 3,913,358

U.S. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet20f3 3,913,338

Sheet 3 of 3 3,913,358

US. Patent 0a. 21, 1975 VARIABLE GAUGE TRANSFER DEVICE FOR RIB BORDER KNITTING MACHINE The present invention concerns a sinking comb for flat knitting machines preferably equipped with an automatic apparatus for the transfer of rib borders onto a magazine-comb.

A machine thus equipped is described for instance in US. Pat. No. 3,446,042 and Belgian Pat. No. 781,778, both assigned to the present assignee.

In practice, the gauges of rib border machines do not usually exceed fourteen needles per inch. Now, one frequently comes across Cotton type machines of gauge 16. In such a case, it is necessary to knit the rib borders in gauge 14, and then to transfer them by hand to gauge 16 comb-magazines. This operation requires skilled manpower, which is becoming increasingly rare and expensive.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device with which it is possible to sink the loops of the knit rib borders on a machine of one gauge and to transfer them with ease on a magazine-comb of another gauge.

This object is achieved, in accordance with the invention, by utilizing a sinking comb comprising the combination of a number of aligned sinking comb pointholder blocks, each carrying one or more swivelling points; means for displacing said blocks towards and away of each other; and means for pivoting or otherwise setting the said points to and keeping them in either of the two predetermined angular positions to vary the gauge setting thereof.

For the sake of more clarity, the invention is described in greater detail below, with reference to the attached drawings which describe a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematical end view of a machine according to the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematical plan views of a sinking comb according to the invention, in two characteristic positions;

FIGS. 4 and 5 represent the sinking comb and its accessories in two characteristic positions; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the spacing combs of the invention in position between the sinking comb points to vary their gauge.

The represented machine comprises two needle beds 1 and 2 and an automatic rib border transfer device cooperating with magazine-comb 3. The rib transfer device comprises, amongst other means, a sinking comb 4 with its guidance and driving mechanism, together with a transfer comb 5.

When the knitting of a rib border is completed, all the loops are carried back on to the rear needle bed I; the sinking comb 4 then proceeds to sink these loops and, taking the rib border with it, presents them to magazine-comb 3. Transfer comb 5 then pushes the loops from the teeth of comb 4 onto those of comb 3.

This device and its operation are well known.

According to the invention, sinking comb 4 consists of a number of point-holder blocks 6 assembled in an extensible manner by U-shaped abutments shown at 7, the latter being disposed in an opposing interlocking arrangement. Each abutment is fastened at one of its ends to the associated block 6, for example, by means of a screw 8, while its other extremity co-operates with the stationary end of the adjacent abutment and conversely. The end blocks comprise only half-abutments 7'.

Means schematically shown as pneumatic cylinders 9 are used to open and close the comb. Thus, FIG. 2 represents the comb in its closed position. Blocks 6 are pressed one against the other; the distance d between co-operating parts of two neighbouring abutments 7 is one spacing, from the less fine (courser) of the two gauges envisaged.

Thus, when the comb is open (FIG. 8), the spacing between two adjacent blocks will be equal to d As shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, each block 6 holds a number of sinking comb points 10, preferably pivoted for movement about a vertical axis on the block at their extremity 11; the spacing d between two neighbouring pivots is equal to one spacing from the finer of the two envisaged gauges.

To the above described comb 4 are associated two toothed gauge setting combs, l2 and 13 respectively, carried at the end of levers l4 and 15 respectively, levers 14 being swivelled on an shaft 16 held by supports 17, and levers 15, at 18 underneath comb 4.

These supports 17 are gripped on a shaft 19 and hold comb 4. The angular position of levers 14 is determined from the machines programming system, by one or more pneumatic cylinders 20 or by any other adequate means. Similarly, the angular position of levers 18 is determined by cylinders 21 or other means acting on control levers 22 pivoting on shaft 19, via rods 23. The teeth of comb 12 are spaced to the coarser gauge and the teeth of combs 13 are spaced to the finer gauge.

The device described above operates substantially as follows.

When the last row of a rib border has been knitted, comb 4 in its open or extended position and with teeth of comb l2 engaged between points 10 (FIGS. 4 and 6) proceeds to sink the loops suspended on the needles of needle bed 1. The rib border is removed. Thereupon, blocks 6 are brought closer together by the action of cylinders 9, while the teeth of comb 11 take the place of those of comb 12 (FIGS. 5 and 7) which is brought to its rest position. The closing of blocks 6 and the coming into action of comb 13 have thus brought the points of comb 4 to their finer gauge, corresponding to that of magazine-comb 3. The transfer on the latter of the rib border can therefore be effected. Thereafter, the blocks 6 of comb 4 are opened, while comb 12 takes the place of comb 13 (FIG. 4). The sinking comb 4 is thus ready to start a fresh cycle.

A great number of variants in design can obviously be envisaged, in addition to the one described above and represented in the attached drawings.

Thus, the number of blocks 6 and that of the points held by each block can be varied within very wide limits. Apart from the passage from gauges 14 to 16 mentioned earlier on as an example, numerous other possibilities can be envisaged such as passages 10 to l7, 17

to 14 and 16 to 18. This means a considerable reduction of the number of different gauges to be provided for in a rib border knitting machine fabrication programme.

Comb 4 too can be fitted with a release in its central portion in order to permit the simultaneous knitting of two cuffs, for example, according to the process described in Belgian Patent No. 781 778 in the name of the Applicant.

Combs 12 and 13 can be made in one, or preferably several parts.

It is obvious too that the use of the sinking comb according to the invention is not strictly confined to automatic rib border transfer devices. Indeed, the said comb it adaptable to be utilized for semi-automatic or automatic transfer operations, outside of the rib border knitting machine, and for effecting doublings.

Hereabove the passage from one gauge to a finer gauge has been described but clearly the converse can be envisaged. Similarly, two combs according to the invention could be used in one and the same process, in order to permit an even bigger range between two envisaged gauges.

What I claim is:

1. In a flat knitting machine having knitting needles of a first gauge setting, a sinking comb device for the sinking of the loops of the last row of a knitted fabric on the needles of said machine and transferring said loops to a different gauge magazine comb, comprising, in combination, at least a pair of sinking comb point holding blocks, each block carrying at least one sinking comb point; means for supporting said blocks for relative movement towards and away from each other; means for moving said block towards and away from each other along the length of the sinking comb; means for independently connecting said points to said blocks for permitting independent movement of said points towards and away from each other at their distal ends to thereby vary the gauge setting of said points; first point gauge setting means for moving the distal ends of said points to a first gauge position; second point gauge setting means for moving the distal ends of said points to a second gauge position; and means for actuating each of said first and second gauge setting means to cause spacing of the distal ends of said points in either of two gauge positions, said blocks being moved to a position relatively away from each other when the gauge of said points are set at a courser gauge position, and to a position relatively adjacent each other when set at a finer gauge position.

2. The sinking comb device recited in claim 1, wherein said blocks carry a multiplicity of points independently connected to said blocks by means permitting the distal ends thereof to be independently moved towards and away from each other, and said point gauge setting means comprise spacing combs each having teeth engageable with and capable of interfitting between said points, the teeth of each spacing comb being spaced to obtain the desired gauge setting of said points when said teeth are interfitted between said points, and said blocks are at their desired relative positions.

3. The sinking comb device recited in claim 1, wherein said means for connecting said points to said blocks comprise pivotal connections enabling each of the points to swivel about a vertical axis extending normal to the length of said sinking comb.

4. The sinking comb device recited in claim 2, wherein said means for connecting said points to said blocks comprise pivotal connections enabling each of the points to swivel about a vertical axis extendingnormal to the length of said sinking comb, the teethof said spacing combs causing said points to pivot to their respective desired gauge settings when interfitted therewith, and when said blades are at their desired relative positions.

5. The sinking comb device recited in claim 1, including means for positively limiting the motion of said.

blocks away from each other, said motion limiting means comprising interlocking U-shaped members connected to and spanning adjacent blocks, the legs of the U-shaped members forming abutments for limiting the motion of each of said blocks away from each other to the distance equivalent to the spacing of the needles or teeth, respectively, of the courser of the gauge of said knitting needles and magazine comb.

6. The sinking comb device recited in claim 4 wherein the spacings of said pivotal connections of said points on said blocks is equivalent to the spacing of the needles or teeth, respectively, of the finer of the gauge of said knitting needles and magazine comb.

7. The sinking comb device recited in claim 2, wherein said spacing combs are pivotally mounted for independent movement towards and away from said points from relative positions above and below said points.

8. The sinking comb device recited in claim 7, further wherein the gauge of the needles of said machine is relatively fine and the gauge of said magazine comb is relatively course, and further including means'for moving the teeth of the finer gauge point spacing comb in interfitting relationship with said points prior to and during the said sinking of the loops on said needles by said sinking comb.

9. The sinking comb device as recited in claim 8, further wherein said spacing combs are mounted for transfer operation. 

1. In a flat knitting machine having knitting needles of a first gauge setting, a sinking comb device for the sinking of the loops of the last row of a knitted fabric on the needles of said machine and transferring said loops to a different gauge magazine comb, comprising, in combination, at least a pair of sinking comb point holding blocks, each block carrying at least one sinking comb point; means for supporting said blocks for relative movement towards and away from each other; means for moving said block towards and away from each other along the length of the sinking comb; means for independently connecting said points to said blocks for permitting independent movement of said points towards and away from each other at their distal ends to thereby vary the gauge setting of said points; first point gauge setting means for moving the distal ends of said points to a first gauge position; second point gauge setting means for moving the distal ends of said points to a second gauge position; and means for actuating each of said first and second gauge setting means to cause spacing of the distal ends of said points in either of two gauge positions, said blocks being moved to a position relatively away from each other when the gauge of said points are set at a courser gauge position, and to a position relatively adjacent each other when set at a finer gauge position.
 2. The sinking comb device recited in claim 1, wherein said blocks carry a multiplicity of points independently connected to said blocks by means permitting the distal ends thereof to be independently moved towards and away from each other, and said point gauge setting means comprise spacing combs each having teeth engageable with and capable of interfitting between said points, the teeth of each spacing comb being spaced to obtain the desired gauge setting of said points when said teeth are interfitted between said points, and said blocks are at their desired relative positions.
 3. The sinking comb device recited in claim 1, wherein said means for connecting said points to said blocks comprise pivotal connections enabling each of the points to swivel about a vertical axis extending normal to the length of said sinking comb.
 4. The sinking comb device recited in claim 2, wherein said means for connecting said points to said blocks comprise pivotal connections enabling each of the points to swivel about a vertical axis extending normal to the length of said sinking comb, the teeth of said spacing combs causing said points to pivot to their respective desired gauge settings when interfitted therewith, and when said blades are at their desired relative positions.
 5. The sinking comb device recited in claim 1, including means for positively limiting the motion of said blocks away from each other, said motion limiting means comprising interlocking U-shaped members connected to and spanning adjacent blocks, the legs of the U-shaped members forming abutments for limiting the motion of each of said blocks away from each other to the distance equivalent to the spacing of the needles or teeth, respectively, of the courser of the gauge of said knitting needles and magazine comb.
 6. The sinking comb device recited in claim 4 wherein the spacings of said pivotal connections of said points on said blocks is equivalent to the spacing of the needles or teeth, respectively, of the finer of the gauge of said knitting needles and magazine comb.
 7. The sinking comb device recited in claim 2, wherein said spacing combs are pivotally mounted for independent movement towards and away from said points from relative positions above and below said points.
 8. The sinking comb device recited in claim 7, further wherein the gauge of the needles of said machine Is relatively fine and the gauge of said magazine comb is relatively course, and further including means for moving the teeth of the finer gauge point spacing comb in interfitting relationship with said points prior to and during the said sinking of the loops on said needles by said sinking comb.
 9. The sinking comb device as recited in claim 8, further wherein said spacing combs are mounted for movement with said sinking comb during a sinking and transfer operation. 